Five days before the scheduled date, Melissa Lucio’s execution on April 27 still stands.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Melissa Lucio was convicted of capital murder in 2008 for the killing of her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah Alvarez. Paramedics who responded to her home on February 17, 2007, found Mariah unresponsive. According to prosecutors, paramedics found injuries and bruises that suggested she had been beaten. The wounds, they claimed, were evidence that Lucio, who struggled with drug abuse at the time, had abused Mariah.
Lucio and her attorney argued that the child fell down a flight of stairs in her home. According to them, forensic evidence shows that the child’s injuries are consistent with falling down the stairs.
Executive director of Death Penalty Action, Abraham Bonowitz, said that the doctor who treated Mariah that night said that there were no signs of abuse on the girl. According to Bonowitz, the doctor said that he did not testify in court as he was not aware of the trial and was not invited by the defense.
There have been efforts to ensure that Lucio does not get executed. Over the years, supporters, including Kim Kardashian, have expressed support for her, requesting that her execution be stopped. Supporters claim that the case was not handled appropriately and that her confession was forced. According to the Innocence Project, a petition to stop the execution has gathered over 220,000 signatures.
Per WFAA News, the current Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz said that he expects the execution to be stopped by the courts, the board of Pardons and Paroles, or the governor. If they do not step in, he plans to withdraw the death warrant before April 27. As the day approaches, Melissa Lucio’s son urges him to make good on his promise.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Texas Representative Jeff Leach also said that he would continue to fight to prevent Lucio’s execution. WFAA reported one of the jurors called for a new trial.
According to Johnny Galvan Jr., there is “too much doubt” in the case to execute Melissa Lucio. Galvan also said he did not know that prosecutors allegedly forced her eventual confession; he had no knowledge of Lucio claiming innocence throughout a five-hour interrogation. “I would be haunted by Ms. Lucio’s execution if it goes forward,” Leach said.
